Country Singer & Songwriter Phil Vassar Says He’s “Thankful” To Be Alive Phil Vassar, country music singer, songwriter and pianist, explains he is “so thankful” to be alive following a massive heart attack and stroke. Most well-known for writing some of country’s biggest hits including Tim McGraw’s “My Next Thirty Years,” Jo Dee Messina’s “Bye, […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

🥶 Heads Up: Cold Nights Ahead! There’s a chance of a hard freeze tonight and again Wednesday night, especially away from the coast. That means temps could dip into the mid-20s in some spots. ❄️Make sure to protect the 4 P’s: People, Pets, Plants, and Pipes 🧍🐶🌱🚰. This stretch of cold weather can be tough […] Read More

GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Crews are preparing to begin a project that supporters say will save homes and stop erosion on Cape San Blas. Gulf County officials are building a total of eight breakwater structures in the Gulf, just off the coastline. The breakwaters are supposed to absorb most of the impact caused by […] Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – From healthcare and culinary arts to HVAC and information technology, students from across Bay District schools packed the CTE Expo, getting a first-hand look at possible careers. “You allow these opportunities to happen. So, to build, to grow, some may not know what they want to do, and that’s fine, […] Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Bay District School Board voted unanimously to suspend a bus paraprofessional without pay after she was arrested in early January. According to an arrest affidavit, April Parrish was arrested for domestic battery. The school board voted to suspend Parrish due to the nature of the arrest. “The school board […] Read More

Shoal River Headwaters State Park opens near DeFuniak Springs Staff Reports January 27, 2026 1:30 pm DeFuniak Springs DEFUNIAK SPRINGS — Florida State Parks has added a new destination to its system with the opening of Shoal River Headwaters State Park, a 2,480-acre preserve just west of DeFuniak Springs.   The park, located at 2239 King Lake Road, features rolling sandy hills, mesic flatwoods and floodplain forests along tributaries of the Shoal River, according to a Florida Department of Environmental Protection news release. It is open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset.   DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert said the new park reflects the state’s continued focus on conservation while expanding public access to natural areas.   “Shoal River Headwaters State Park highlights our commitment to protecting Florida’s natural treasures while providing new ways for visitors to explore, experience and enjoy the outdoors,” Lambert said in the release, adding that Florida’s park system continues to set a national standard for conservation and resource-based recreation.   The park currently offers hiking and wildlife-viewing opportunities. Florida State Parks officials said they will work with the public to develop long-term recreation and land management plans for the site.   State Rep. Shane Abbott, R-DeFuniak Springs, praised the preservation of the land, calling it an investment in the county’s future.   “This new state park will ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to enjoy the natural Florida that I did growing up,” Abbott said in the release.   Shoal River Headwaters State Park... Read More

Shocking Federal Indictment Brings Serious Prison Threat for Florida Airman Staff Reports January 27, 2026 12:52 pm Crime, Emerald Coast, Public Safety, State Government In Brief: A 24-year-old airman stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base has been indicted on federal child pornography charges. The case includes allegations of receipt, distribution, and possession, each carrying potential decades-long prison sentences. Federal and local agencies worked jointly on the investigation under Project Safe Childhood. A Florida airman stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base is facing multiple federal charges following a grand jury indictment tied to child pornography offenses. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, Matthew Fooladian, 24, of Tyndall Air Force Base, was indicted on charges of receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography, distribution or attempted distribution of child pornography, and possession or access with intent to view child pornography. The charges were announced Tuesday by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin. Fooladian appeared for his arraignment in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee. His jury trial is scheduled for March 23, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before U.S. District Court Judge Mark E. Walker. If convicted, Fooladian faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to 20 years on both the receipt and distribution charges. The possession charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Air Force... Read More